World Sea Turtle Day

 

World Sea Turtle Day observed on June 16 is an important day for marine conservation enthusiasts and sea turtle lovers around the world. This day is dedicated to celebrating and bringing awareness to the plight of sea turtles globally. These creatures are beautiful, and they deserve our admiration and protection. On June 16th, let us pay tribute to these mesmerizing animals and remind ourselves of the important role we play in their survival.

Species of Sea Turtle:

• Leatherback sea turtle
• Green sea turtles
• Hawksbill sea turtle
• Loggerhead sea turtle
• Olive ridley sea turtle
• Kemps ridley sea turtle
• Flatback sea turtle

Sea turtles are endangered species

Sea turtles are truly magnificent creatures. Swimming gracefully through the ocean, their sleek and smooth bodies fill us with awe. Despite being here for millions of years, these animals face an uncertain future, threatened by human impact on their habitat. World Sea Turtle Day reminds us to appreciate their inherent value, to respect their habitat, and to work towards their conservation.

Dr Archie Carr - pioneer of sea turtle conservation

One of the significant figures of the sea turtle conservation movement was Dr. Archie Carr. This renowned biologist dedicated his life to studying and protecting sea turtles, raising awareness of threats to their survival. The Sea Turtle Conservancy, founded in 1959, continues to carry out his legacy and bring attention to the many perils these animals face. Dr Carr was a pioneer in the effort to protect our environment. He wrote several influential books, such as The Windward Road and So Shall You Reap, which highlighted the importance of conservation and its effects on animals and habitats. His advocacy for turtles is particularly notable; he frequently made trips to Tortuguero National Park to observe sea turtle nesting sites and educate locals about conservation efforts. He also led public awareness campaigns alongside his wife Marjorie Carr, who later became a leader in the environmental movement. In recognition of his work, he was awarded the prestigious Daniel Giraud Elliot Medal by the National Academy of Sciences in 1952. Dr Carr's dedication to protecting our planet continues to serve as an example for future generations of environmentalists.

Top places to see sea turtles:

  Great Barrier Reef, Australia

  Bunaken Marine Park, Indonesia

  Turtle Islands, Philippines & Malaysia

  Gili Islands, Indonesia

  Tioman Island, Malaysia

  Lhaviyani Atoll, Maldives

  Laniakea Beach, Hawaii

  Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico

  Tortuguero, Costa Rica

  Galapagos Islands, Ecuador

  Marsa Alam, Egypt

  Sipadan, Malaysia

Ways to protect sea turtles

Sea turtles play a vital role in ocean ecosystems and have a strong cultural significance to many coastal indigenous communities. However, their populations have been rapidly declining due to climate change, habitat disturbance, and direct exploitation. We all have a shared responsibility to protect sea turtles, especially because we depend on a healthy ocean for our survival. This is a reminder that we must act with urgency to protect these animals and their fragile habitats.

Do our bid:

• Fight plastic pollution by reducing plastic use
• Increase awareness by organising trips to see them
• Never buy souvenirs made out of turtle shells
• Don't buy fish caught in the process of trawling - use sustainable sources only
• Use ocean friendly product such as eco sunscreen cream

A unique aspect of sea turtles that sets them apart from other marine creatures is their immense perseverance and resiliency. It is a testament to their character that they have been able to survive and thrive for millions of years. Other marine animals have come and gone, and yet sea turtles continue to exist. That's why it's so important to celebrate World Sea Turtle Day – we must remember and appreciate how magnificent these creatures are and how much they enrich our world of scuba diving.

 

International Waterfall Day

Waterfalls are among the most amazing natural sights in the world, so it is not surprising that there is a holiday celebrating them. International Waterfall Day is observed annually on June 16.

The term “waterfall” typically refers to a point in a river or stream where water flows over a steep drop that is vertical or almost vertical. Waterfalls usually form in the upper course of a river where the river flows over a stretch of hard rock such as granite and then falls on to softer rock like limestone: the soft rock is more susceptible to erosion, which leads to an increasingly high fall. This is the most common way of waterfall formation, but not the only one.

No two waterfalls in the world are exactly the same, but they can be roughly divided into types based on their shape. The most common waterfall types are ledge (further divided into subtypes: classical, curtain and block/sheet/rectangular), plunge, horsetail, punchbowl, tiered (staircase, multi-step), segmented, cascade, and cataract. The so-called ephemeral waterfalls are different from other waterfalls in that they only flow after a significant snowmelt or rain.

The exact number of waterfalls in the world is unknown, but there are thousands of them. The World Waterfall Database was established in 2002 to provide an accurate record of the world’s waterfalls, but even now, more than two decades later, it is far from being complete and lacks information about a lot of countries.

Niagara Falls on the border of Canada and the United States is arguably the world’s most famous waterfall, but it’s not the tallest, largest, or most powerful one. The world’s tallest uninterrupted waterfall is Angel Falls in Venezuela; it has a height of 3,212 feet and a plunge of 2,648 feet. The world’s widest waterfall (6.7 miles or 35,376 feet) is the Khone Phapheng Falls in Laos.

 

Other famous and notable waterfalls include Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe and Zambia, Yosemite Falls in the United States, Gullfoss in Iceland, Plitvice Falls in Croatia, Sutherland Falls and Browne Falls in

New Zealand, Rhine Falls in Switzerland, Tugela Falls in South Africa, Igazu Falls on the border of Argentina and Brazil, Kaieteur Falls in Guyana, Kunchikal Falls in India, Bigar Cascade Falls in Romania, and many more.

 

Waterfalls have a symbolic meaning and play an important role in many cultures, so it is not surprising that someone decided to celebrate them. International Waterfall Day was launched in 2020 by a man named Bob Matthews from Rochester, New York. Bob and his wife love waterfalls and check them out wherever they go. The couple came up with the idea of celebrating a holiday dedicated to waterfalls during the COVID-19 lockdown, when they were stuck at home and couldn’t take trips to see waterfalls.

There are many ways to celebrate International Waterfall Day. You can learn more about the world’s highest, widest, largest, and most spectacular waterfalls, take or at least plan a trip to a waterfall, and spread the word about the holiday with the hashtags #InternationalWaterfallDay and #WaterfallDay to encourage others to admire the beauty of waterfalls.